Puncture Wounds: Stitches, Staples, and Skin Adhesives

Topic Overview

Puncture wounds are less likely than cuts to be stitched, stapled, or
have a
skin adhesive applied because:

Puncture wounds tend to be smaller than cuts and
usually do not heal better or scar less when stitched.

Puncture
wounds tend to be deeper, narrower, and harder to clean than cuts. Sealing
bacteria into a wound when it is stitched increases the risk of
infection.

If a puncture wound becomes infected, the wound usually
drains better and heals faster when it is not stitched.

Puncture wounds may be stitched if the cosmetic appearance of the
resulting scar will be greatly improved or if stitching is needed to restore
function to an injured deep structure, such as a tendon or ligament.

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